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General Dynamics NASSCO Lays Keel of Fifth T-AKE Ship, USNS Robert E. Peary

December 12, 2006
Contact: Karl D. Johnson
Tel: (619) 544-8860
Email: kjohnson@nassco.com

SAN DIEGO – General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today held a keel-laying ceremony for the fifth ship in the U.S. Navy’s T-AKE program. The ship is named USNS Robert E. Peary in honor of the former Navy rear admiral who was one of the first men to explore the Artic circle.

A keel-laying ceremony is a shipbuilding tradition that signifies an important milestone as full-scale production begins. In recognition of that milestone, Phebe Novakovic, senior vice president of Planning and Development for General Dynamics, was the honoree for the event and welded her initials into the keel.

The Robert E. Peary is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy’s Military Sealift Command in the second quarter of 2008. When it joins the fleet, the ship’s primary mission will be to deliver food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions to combat ships at sea.

General Dynamics NASSCO employs more than 4,500 people and is the only major ship construction yard on the West Coast of the United States. NASSCO has delivered the first ship of the T-AKE class to the Navy; five follow-on ships are under construction at the San Diego shipyard. In 2007, NASSCO will begin construction on a series of nine product carriers for U.S. Shipping Partners L.P. Additional information on NASSCO can be found at www.nassco.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 81,100 people worldwide, and expects 2006 revenues of approximately $24 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information can be found online at www.generaldynamics.com.